Resource Library

The Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI) reviews a variety of resources, ranging from guidance documents, research papers, and policy briefs to tools and websites aimed at supporting state and local education agency leadership in making decisions about their standards, assessment programs, and accountability systems. Reviewed resources are added monthly.

CSAI recently presented to Early Childhood, Assessment, and Accountability staff from seven states at the request of the Southeast Comprehensive Center (SECC) as a professional learning event for their Early Childhood Community of Practice. Through this presentation, CSAI addressed the following...

The Assessment Guide provides several resources for leaders and implementation teams in PreK-12th grade settings who are making decisions about selecting and using measures of student SEL. This includes guidance on how to select an assessment and use student SEL competency data, a catalog from...

This searchable website, created by the PEAR Institute, provides assessment tools for informal science learning. This website allows practitioners, evaluators, researchers, and policy makers with the information to choose appropriate tools for assessing program quality and outcomes for children and...

There is a growing recognition that strong academic skills alone are not enough for young people to become successful adults, and this comprehensive report offers wide-ranging evidence to show that what young people need to develop from preschool to young adulthood to succeed in college and career...

From the executive summary: “Social-emotional learning (SEL) involves how students think and feel about themselves, get along with others, and regulate their attention and behavior. SEL plays an important role in students’ school and life outcomes. Although SEL may be disrupted under conditions of...

This document, from the Kauffman Early Education Exchange, provides an in-depth look at the research, practice, and policy in social and emotional learning that can best prepare young children and their families for school success. The document contains six fully commissioned papers that highlight...

This paper reviews the current literature on measuring and fostering non-cognitive skills. Non-cognitive skills in this paper refer to personal attributes not thought to be measured by IQ or achievement tests (p.13). The term can be used interchangeably with social and emotional learning.

A growing body of evidence has shown that social and emotional strengths in children and adults lead to school and life success. This article from the New York Times summarizes some of the key studies that support this claim, and argues that schools and teachers need to promote social and emotional...

Supporting research-based decision-making in standards and assessment

WestEd and CRESST, two national leaders in the standards and assessment field, continue their collaboration in providing high-quality research support and technical assistance to states as the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI).

This award is a grant under prime award #S283B050022A between the U.S. Department of Education and WestEd. The findings and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. This site and its contents copyright WestEd. All rights reserved.